Universal mounting kit and method of using same

ABSTRACT

A universal mounting kit includes a support apparatus, a set of tie straps, a set of mounting pads and a sheet of instructions directed to providing a user with a step by step procedure for securing the support apparatus removably to first and second tubular surfaces, where the first tubular surface is a desired object such as a bicycle handlebar or gun barrel and where the second tubular surface is another desired object such as a flashlight housing or laser pen housing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a mounting apparatus and kit and a method of using the kit for mounting a flashlight to a cylindrical tube, and more particularly to a universal mounting kit and method of using the kit for mounting a flashlight to a bicycle or barrel of a rifle.

BACKGROUND

There have been many different types of mounting apparatus for mounting a flashlight to a bicycle, a barrel of a rifle or some other type of stationary surface. For example, reference can be made to the following U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,555 by Miree; U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,081 by Miree; U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,705 by Miree; U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,725 by Miree; U.S. Pat. No. 4,707,772 by Jimenez et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,884 by Maglica et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,919 by Case; U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,268 by Case; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,565,226 by Cummings.

While several of the above-referenced patents disclose the use of a mounting apparatus for securing a flashlight to a bicycle or barrel of a rifle, such devices have not been entirely satisfactory. In this regard, there is a need for a new and improved universal mounting kit and method of using the kit for mounting a flashlight to a bicycle or gun barrel in a fast and convenient manner, at a very low cost, and where the flashlight can be installed and removed without modification to the bicycle or gun barrel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention a universal mounting kit includes a support apparatus, a set of tie straps, a cushioning pad, a set of mounting pads, and a sh et of instructions directed to providing a user with a step by step procedure for securing the support apparatus removably to a tubular surface, such as the handlebar of a bicycle or the barrel of a rifle or shot gun and for removably securing a flashlight to the support apparatus

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a universal mounting kit, which is constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a support apparatus forming part of the universal mounting kit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plane view of the support apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plane view of the support apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of the support apparatus of FIG. 2, illustrating it supporting a flashlight from the handlebars of a bicycle;

FIG. 6 is a pictorial view of the support apparatus of FIG. 2, illustrating it supporting a laser pen from the barrel of a shotgun;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the support apparatus of FIG. 2, taken substantially along line 7-7;

FIGS. 8A-8B illustrate the steps of using the universal mounting kit of FIG. 1 to removably secure a flashlight to the handlebars of a bicycle;

FIG. 9 illustrates the steps of using the universal mounting kit of FIG. 1 to removably secure a flashlight to the barrel of a rifle; and

FIG. 10 illustrates another universal mounting kit, which is constructed in accordance with the present invention, illustrating the mounting kit supporting a flashlight from a tubular member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is illustrated a universal mounting kit 10, which is constructed in accordance to the present invention. The universal mounting kit 10 is adapted to be removably secured to a first tubular surface, such as to the handlebars of a bicycle or the barrel of a rifle or shot gun and is further adapted to be removably secured to a second tubular surface, such as to the housing body of a conventional flashlight or laser pen.

Considering now the universal mounting kit 10 in greater detail with reference to FIG. 1, the universal mounting kit 10 is packaged in a clear transparent bag 11 for facilitating displaying or shipping the kit 10 in a convenient manner. Within the shipping bag 11, the various components of the kit are arranged and generally include a support apparatus 12, a cushion pad 13, a set 14 of tie straps 4043, a set 16 of mounting pads 50-53, a battery powered lantern 17, such as a flashlight or laser pen, and a sheet 18 of instructions directed to providing a user with a step by step procedure for securing the support apparatus 12 removably to a tubular surface, such as the handlebar 60 (FIG. 5) of a bicycle or the barrel 70 (FIG. 6) of a shotgun or the barrel 80 of a rifle and for removably securing a flashlight 90 to the support apparatus 12.

As best seen in FIGS. 1-2, the support apparatus 12 generally includes a first or tube support member 20, having an elongated U-shaped channel 32 adapted to engage and fit the concave surface of the handlebar 60 (FIG. 5) of a bicycle or the gun barrel 70 (FIG. 6) of a shot gun or the barrel 80 (FIG. 9) of a rifle, and a second or lantern support member 22, having another elongated U-shaped channel 34, which is adapted to engage and fit the concave surface of a lantern housing, such as the housing 92 of the flashlight 90, or a laser pen housing 62 (FIG. 6) of a laser pen 60.

As best seen in FIG. 7, the tube support member 20 and the lantern support member 22 are secured together by a rivet or pivot pin 24, which allows the two support members 20 and 22 to rotate in a 360 degree circle relative to one another and which causes them to be slightly spaced from one another. The terminal ends of the tube support member 20 and lantern support member 22, are sufficiently spaced apart from one another to permit the tube support member 20 to be removably secured in a fixed stationary position to the handlebar 60 by a pair of the tie straps, such as the tie straps 40-41 as best seen in FIG. 5.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 7, the cushion pad 13 includes a pad 36 having one of its surfaces coated with an adhesive 38 that completely covers the surface except at one of its corner. A peel sheet 37 (FIG. 1) covers and protects the adhesive 38 until it is time to use the cushion pad 13 as will be explained hereinafter in greater detail.

As best seen in FIG. 1, each of the Velcro strips 50-53 in the set 16 of strips, have one of their surfaces also coated with an adhesive, such as an adhesive 54, that completely covers their respective surfaces except for at a corner portion of each strip as indicated relative to the pile bearing strip 50 and the hook bearing strip 51. A peel sheet 56 having a peel off here mark 57 covers and protects the adhesive 54 disposed on the pile bearing strips 50 and 53, while the hook bearing strips 51 and 52 have a peel sheet 58 with a peel off here mark 59.

Considering now the method of using the universal mounting kit 10 to secure a flashlight 90 to a tubular handlebar 60 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 5, and 8A-B, a user not shown removes that various components from the shipping bag 11 and opens the instructions 18 to review the step by step assembly procedure.

In this regard, assembly of the kit 10 begins by the user selecting the cushion pad 13 and grabbing it at its one marked corner where its peel sheet 37 can be grasped and pull back and completely away from the pad 36 so that its adhesive layer 38 is completely exposed. The pad 36 is then oriented so that the adhesive layer 38 will come into contact with the lower support member 20. In the regard, the user brings the pad 36 into contact with the support member 20, attaching the cushion pad 36 to the tubular support member 20 so that the cushion pad 36 extends along substantially the entire longitudinal dimension of the support member 20 and completely covering the rivet 24 as best seen in FIG. 4. In this manner, as best seen in FIG. 8A, the cushion pad 36 protects the tubular surface 60 from being scratched by the rivet 24 and further acts as a friction like gripping surface the helps hold the support member 20 in engagement with the tubular surface 60 when the support apparatus 12 is placed thereon.

Next the user secures the support member 20 to the handlebar 60 using two of the tie straps, such as the tie straps 40 and 41 respectively. With the support member removably fixed to the handlebar 60, the user next rotates the lantern or upper support member 22 so that is substantially perpendicular to the tubular or lower support member 24 as best seen in FIG. 8A.

The user at this point in the assembly process can determine whether to more permanently secure the flashlight 90 to the support member 22 by using the other pair of tie straps 42 and 43 respectively as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 8B, or whether to removably secure the flashlight 90 to the support member 22 by using the set 16 of Velcro strips 50-54. In the first instance, the user retrieves the other pair of tie straps 42 and 43 and secures the back of the flashlight housing 92 to the back or rear end of the support member 22 with tie strap 42 and secures the front of the flashlight housing 92 to the front or forward facing portion of the support member 22 with the tie strap 43. In the second instance, the user retrieves one pair of like Velcro strips, either both with loops or either both with hooks, and peels away their respective peel sheets from their respective marked corners. As an individual one of the peel sheets 56 is completely peeled away from the adhesive 54, the user orients the adhesive 54 so that it can be engaged with support member 22 to either the right or left of the rivet 24 within the channel 34 as best seen in FIG. 3. The user then presses the surface of the adhesive 54 into engagement with the support member 22. The user then repeats this process using the other one of the like Velcro strips to affix it to the support member 22 but on the opposite side of the rivet 24 as best seen in FIG. 3. In this manner, the two like Velcro strips 51 and 52 are secured within channel 34 of the support member 22.

The user then selects the other remaining pair of like Velcro strips 50 and 53 and removes their respective peel sheets so they can be affixed to the flashlight housing in a spaced apart manner as best seen in FIG. 8B. Once the support member 20 and the flashlight housing 92 have been affixed with the set 16 of Velcro strips, the flashlight 90 can be removably secured within the channel 34 of support member 22. In this manner, whenever the user needs the flashlight 90 for other than lighting the path of travel for the bicycle, the user can easily and quickly remove the flashlight 90 from the support apparatus 12 member and use it for the other purpose. Once this alternate use for the flashlight 90 has been completely, the user can once again replace the flashlight 90 within the support apparatus 12 for use as a lantern to light the path of travel that followed by the user on his or her bicycle. These is an important feature of the present invention as the user can quickly and easily install the kit 10, without modification to the bicycle and can use the flashlight 90 for multiple purposes.

In an alternative use of the kit 10, the user can affix the support apparatus 12 to the barrel 70 of shotgun while simultaneously securing a lantern, such as a laser pen 60, to the support apparatus 12. In this regard, the user places the laser pen 60 within channel 34 of the lantern support member 22 and then while holding the pen 60 in engagement with the support member 20, and with the support member 20 in parallel alignment with the support member 22, the user engages the previously installed cushion pad 36 with the barrel 70 as best seen in FIG. 6.

Next the user secures the support apparatus 12 with its loaded laser pen 60 to the barrel 70 using a pair of the tie straps, such as the tie straps 40 and 41 as best seen in FIG. 6. In this manner the user quickly and easily adapts the shot gun with a laser pen 60 that is mounted without modifying the barrel 70 and which is mounted in such a way to allow both batteries and bulbs within the laser pen 60 to be easily replaced if such is required.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art should understand that the barrel 80 of a rifle can also be adapted to with a flashlight 90 using a similar procedure as best seen in FIG. 9. In this regard, with the flashlight 90 held within the support member 22, the user engages the cushion pad 36 with the barrel 80. The user then secures the flashlight 90 and the support apparatus 12 simultaneously to the barrel 80 using a pair of the tie straps, such as tie straps 42 and 43.

Considering now the set 14 of tie straps 40-43 in greater detail with reference to FIG. 1, each of the tie straps 40-43 are identical in construction so only tie strap 40 will be described hereinafter in greater detail.

Considering now the tie strap 40 in greater detail with reference to FIG. 1, the tie strap 40 generally includes a flexible bundling molded of plastic or nylon having an elongated body portion 44 having a flat side 45 and a ribbed side 46 which extends throughout the major length of the elongated body portion 44. One end of the body portion 44 comprises a tail end portion 47, which is slightly rounded. The opposite end of the body portion 44 of the strap 40 terminates in an elongated clinching eyelet 48. The eyelet 48 has an aperture 49, which is dimensioned for receiving therethrough the body portion 44 of the strap 40.

In use, a user grasps the tail end portion 47 and its opposite eyelet end 48 passed about a tubular member, such as the tubular member 80 with its ribbed side in 46 in facing relation with the tubular member 8, from its far side, ten under the tubular member 80 and forwardly upward to a position nearest to the user, whereupon the eyelet end 48 is held in one hand and the tail end 47 is intruded into and through the aperture 49 until the tail end portion of the body has been forced therethrough. With the body portion so looped about the tubular member 80, the tail end portion is grasps and pulled until the loop formed around the tubular member is brought into abutting engagement with the tubular member 80. The eyelet 48 is self-locking with the ribs of the body thereby resulting in a cinching of the strap 40 to secure the strap 40 about the tubular member 80.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 10 there is illustrated another universal mounting kit 110, which is constructed in accordance to the present invention. The mounting kit 110 is identical in construction to mounting kit 10 except that it has a different type of support apparatus 112. In this regard, the support apparatus 112 includes a tubular support member 120 and a lantern support member 122.

The tubular support member 120 has a flexible wall structure with an opening having a width dimension “D” that expands as the support member 120 is pressed down onto a tubular surface 80 having a larger radius than the width dimension “D” of the opening of the support member 120. When the support member 120 is further pushed down onto the tubular surface 80, the flexible wall opening continues to expand until its width dimension is the same as the radius of the tubular surface 80 and then, as the user still continues to push the support member 120 onto the tubular surface 80, the expanded flexible walls close down or wrap into abutting engagement with the tubular surface 80 as best seen in FIG. 10, thereby securing the support apparatus 112 to the tubular surface 80. With the support member 120 in a snug friction tight fix with the tubular member 80, there is no need to use any of the tie straps to further secure the support member 112 to the tubular surface 80. It should be understood by those skilled in the art, that should a user desired a more secure arrangement, the user can use the tie straps within kit 110 to achieve this purpose.

Considering the support apparatus 112 in still greater detail, the support member 122 also includes a flexible wall structure with another opening having a width dimension “d” that is substantially smaller than the width dimension “D” of the opening in the support member 120. The width dimension “d” of the opening in support member 122 expands as the support member 122 is pressed down onto a tubular surface 92 having a larger radius than the width dimension “d” of the opening of the support member 122. When the support member 122 is further pushed down onto the tubular surface 92, the flexible wall opening continues to expand until its expanded width dimension “d+” is the same as the radius of the tubular surface 92 and then, as the user still continues to push the support member 122 onto the tubular surface 92, the flexible wall snaps or closes down into abutting engagement with the tubular surface 92, as best seen in FIG. 10, thereby securing the support apparatus 112 to the tubular surface 92. With the support member 122 in a snug friction tight fix with the tubular member 92 there is no need to use any of the tie straps or Velcro strips to further secure the support member 112 to the tubular member 92. It should be understood however, by those skilled in the art, that should a user desired a more secure arrangement, the user can use the tie straps or Velcro strips within kit 110 to achieve this purpose.

Although in the preferred embodiment of the present invention the cushion pad 13 and the set 16 of Velcro strip have been described as being used with support apparatus 12 in a particular manner, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention, that the cushion pad 13 could be used in the lantern support member 122 to protect the lantern 17 from being scratched by the rivet 24, and that the set 16 of Velcro strips could be mounted for use with the support member 120 and a supporting surface, such as the handlebar 60. Thus, while particular preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that various different modifications are possible and are contemplated within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims. There is no intention, therefore, of limitations to the exact abstract or disclosure herein presented. 

1. A universal mounting kit, comprising: a tube engaging member having an elongated U-shaped channel, said channel being dimensioned to snugly engage a tubular member; another tube engaging member having another elongated U-shaped channel, said another channel being dimensioned to snugly engage another tubular member; a rivet for securing said tube engaging member and said another tube engaging member in a back to back configuration for free rotational movement relative to one another and for partially spacing them one from the another along a least a portion of their respective longitudinal axes; a plurality of straps for removably securing said tube engaging member to said tubular member; and another plurality of straps for removably securing said another tubular member to said another tube engaging member.
 2. The universal mounting kit according to claim 1, wherein said tubular member is a handlebar.
 3. The universal mounting kit according to claim 1, wherein said tubular member is a gun barrel.
 4. The universal mounting kit according to claim 1, wherein said another tubular member is a flashlight housing.
 5. The universal mounting kit according to claim 1, wherein said another tubular member is a laser pen housing.
 6. A universal mounting kit, comprising: a support apparatus having a upper support member with an expandable opening having a width dimension of d and a lower support member with another expandable opening having another width dimension of D; wherein said upper support member and said lower support member are secured together for free rotational movement relative to one another; wherein said width dimension d corresponds to the radius dimension of a tubular member; wherein said width dimension D corresponds to the radius dimension of another tubular member; and wherein said support apparatus is adapted to be secured to said tubular member.
 7. The universal mounting kit according to claim 6, wherein said upper support member and said lower support member are secured together by a rivet.
 8. The universal mounting kit according to claim 6, further comprising: a plurality of devices for securing said support apparatus to a tubular member.
 9. The universal mounting kit according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of devices is a plurality of tie straps.
 10. The universal mounting kit according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of devices is a plurality of pads including at least one pad with a plurality of hooks and at least another pad with a plurality of piles.
 11. The universal mounting kit according to claim 6, further comprising: another plurality of devices for securing said support apparatus to another tubular member.
 12. The universal mounting kit according to claim 11, wherein said another plurality of devices is another plurality of tie straps.
 13. The universal mounting kit according to claim 1, wherein said another plurality of devices is another plurality of pads including at least one pad with a plurality of hooks and at least another pad with a plurality of piles.
 14. A universal mounting kit according to claim 6, wherein a rivet secures said lower support member to said upper support member in a back to back configuration for free rotational movement relative to one another and for partially spacing them one from the another along a least a portion of their respective longitudinal axes.
 15. The universal mounting kit according to claim 6, wherein said support apparatus is further adapted to be secured to said another tubular member.
 16. The universal mounting kit according to claim 6, wherein said tubular member is a handlebar.
 17. The universal mounting kit according to claim 6, wherein said tubular member is a gun barrel.
 18. The universal mounting kit according to claim 6, wherein said another tubular member is a flashlight housing.
 19. The universal mounting kit according to claim 6, wherein said another tubular member is a laser pen housing.
 20. A method of mounting a tubular member to another tubular member, comprising the steps of: providing a mounting kit having a support apparatus, said support apparatus including an upper support member and a lower support member; attaching said lower support member to the another tubular member; and attaching said upper support member to the tubular member.
 21. The method of mounting according to claim 20, wherein said upper support member and said lower support member are each elongated U-shaped channel members and are pivotally mounted to one another at about their geometric centers for rotational movement relative to one another.
 22. The method of mounting according to claim 21, wherein said step of attaching said lower support member to the another tubular member includes wrapping an elongated tie strap having a tail end portion and a cinch end portion around the another tubular member and said lower support member; and cinching said tail end portion through said cinch end portion to secure them together mounting said lower support member to the tubular member.
 23. The method of mounting according to claim 22, wherein said step of attaching said upper support member to the tubular member includes wrapping another elongated tie strap having another tail end portion and another cinch end portion around the tubular member and said upper support member; and cinching said another tail end portion through said another cinch end portion to secure them together mounting said upper support member to the another tubular member.
 24. The method of mounting according to claim 23, wherein the tubular member is a flashlight housing.
 25. The method of mounting according to claim 24, wherein the another tubular member is a handlebar.
 26. A method of mounting a lantern to a tubular member, comprising the steps of: providing a mounting kit having a support apparatus, said support apparatus including an upper support member with a opening having a width dimension of d and a lower support member with another opening having another width dimension of D and wherein said upper support member and said lower support member are secured together for free rotational movement relative to one another; pressing the opening of the lower support member onto the tubular member with sufficient force to cause said lower support member to wrap partially around the tubular member in a snug friction tight fix; and pressing the opening of the upper support member onto the lantern with sufficient force to cause said upper support member to wrap partially around the lantern in a snug friction tight fix.
 27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said width dimension d and said width dimension D are equal.
 28. The method according to claim 26, wherein said width dimension d and said width dimension D are unequal.
 29. The universal mounting kit according to claim 1 further comprising: an elongated cushion for mounting within said elongated U-shaped channel to facilitate friction engagement with said tubular member.
 30. The universal mounting kit according to claim 29, further comprising: a plurality of hook and pile members for helping to mount said another tubular member within said another elongated U-shaped channel. 